Refrigeration



Dec. 16, 1930. 3. 5. MUNTERS 1,785,700

REFRIGERATION Filed Dec. 20, 1929 lNV TOR Patented Dec. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARL GEOBG HUNTERS, 01' STOCEOLI,

REFRIGERATION Application filed December SR0. 1989, iaerlallo. 415,874, and in lweden'lmuary it, 1989.

- My invention relates to the art of refrigeration and particularly to refrigerating apparatus of the absorption type and still more particularly to continuous absorption apparatus 5 wherein an,ine'rt gas is used to equalize the pressure throughout. In sin-apparatus of this type circulation of the va rious'fluids therein is caused to take place byforce setup entirely within the systemand' hen'ce no'mechanical pumps or fans are required. One of theobje'ct s of my invention is to provide improved means for establishing a liquid circulation in an apparatus of this type. Further objects and advantages inherent to my: invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompany-in drawings which form a part of tlii's' speci cation and on which Fig. 1 is .2 an 'elev'ationa-l view, partially in cross-section, of a preferred embodiment of my invention. f Y

Referring'more particularly to Fig. 1, ref

erence character 10 designates a generator centrally through which extends a flue 11.

Flue 11is arranged to be heated in any suitable manner as, for instance, by the gas burner 12. Communicating with the upper part of generator '10 is a conduit 13, part of which is surrounded by a rectifier jacket14.

A-conduit 15 connects the up er end of conduit 13 with a condenser jacfi which extends a cooling water conduit 17.

The other end of jacket 16 is connected by 35 means of a conduit18 with the lower part of rectifier jacket 14, while the upper part of the jacket is connected by'means of a. conduit 19 with a'more or less intermediate point of jacket 16. The interiorof that portion of con duit 13 which extends within rectifier jacket 14'is provided with a number of apertured baflles' 20.

A conduit 21 communicates with conduit 18, extends upwardly for some distance and 4.5 thence within a conduit 22 and discharges within the upper part of an evaporator 23. Evaporator 23 comprises a closed cylindrical member in which is placed a series of'discs 24 in which 'areformed apertures 25 sur- P rounded byraised rims 26. A conduit 27 et 16 through connects the bottom of evaporator 23 with a space 28 formedin one end of a gas heat exchanger 29. Space 28 is formed between one end of the heat exchanger and a tube head 30. Tubes31 extend from tube head to a simi lar tube head 32 placed near the other end of the heat exchanger. A s ace 33 is formed between tube head 32 and t e adjacentend of the heat exchanger. Y

A conduit 34 connects space 33 with the lower part of an absorber 35. Absorber 35 compr ses a closed cylindrical member around which is placed in heat exchange relation therewith a cooling water coil 36, one end of which is connected to cooling water conduit 17. A series of discs 37, which may be similar to discs 24 inevaporator 23 are placedwithin the absorber. A conduit 38 connects the upper part of absorber 35 with the lower part of a space 39 formed within heat exchanger 29 between tube heads 30 and 32. The other end of ace 39 is connected to the upper part 0 evaporator 23 by conduit 22. j

A conduit 40 communicates with the bottom of absorber 35 while a second conduit 41 extends through the bottom of the absorber so that its open upper end is some distance.

above the bottom of the absorber but not above the lower part of conduit 34. Both conduits 40 and 41 extendwithin. a liquid heat exchange jacket 42, are wound in the form of coils around an extension of flue 11 and thence extend upwardly and communicate with the upper part of generator 10. A

conduit 43 connects the lower part of generator 10 with end or jacket 42 while a conduit 44 connects the other end of the jacket with the upper part of absorber 35.

This apparatus operates as follows:

The solution consisting of a refrigerant,

such as ammonia, dissolved in an absorbent for instance, water, is contained within generator 10. Upon the application of heat thereto 7 from 'gas burner 12 ammonia vapor is evolved from this solution and passes upwardly through conduit 13 along with some water vapor. Water vapor is condensed during its through the apertures 20, due to cool- 45 hydrogen will vb eicooled by the cold mixture through conduit 19 ing action of liquid ammonia in rectifier 'acket 14, as will be explained later, and runs ack to the generator. The substantially pure ammonia vapor passes from the upper end of conduit 13 through conduit 15 into condenser jacket 16 where it is liquefied due to the cooling action of the water in conduit 17. The liquefied ammonia asses fromjacket 16 through conduit 18 JIltO rectifier acket 14. The level at which the liquid will stand in jacket 14 isdetermined by the highest oint of co duit 21.

e e liquid ammonia within jacket 14 is below the temperature at which the water vapor ert with respect to ammonia, for instance hydrogen, which is introduced through conduit 22. 'Theammom'a will evaporate in the presence of, an dfdifluse into; the hydrogen and the comparatively heavy mixture of vaporous ammonia and hydrogen will pass'downwardl through evaporator23 and through cond hit 27 to space 28 within gas heat exchanger 29. From here it will pass through tubes 3lto space 33 and thence through conduit 34 to the lower? part of absorber 35. I In the absorber the mixture of vaporous ammoniaan'd hydrogen will comeincontact with absorption fluid containing but little ammonia in solution which isintroduced through conduit 44. The ammonia will be absorbed by this absorption fluid while the hydrogen will remainunabsorbed and'pass from'the upper part of absorber 35 through conduit 38 to space 39 within'heat exchanger 29. In space 39 this ammonia 'andhydrogen within tubes 31. From space 39 .the' hydrogen will pass through conduit 22 to the upper part of evaporator 25.

The strong solution oi. ammonia in water: formed absorber 35' will collect in the bot-i. tom thereof and pass therefrom through conduit 40. In that portion of conduit 40 which is in the form of a coil around flue 11 the strong solution will be heated with the result that vapor will be formed. Vapor thus formed will lift the remaining liquid according to thevwell known thermo-siphon or percolator' 10. Within the generator ammonia will again be driven from solution and the weak solution will passby gravity from the lower part of'generator 10 through conduit 43 to principle through the remainder of conduit 40 into the upper part of generator heat exchange jacket 42 and thence through conduit 44 to the upper part of the absorber. Under normal operating conditions conduit 40 will be able to convey all the liquid which is to be circulated from the absorber to the generator. However, should the capacity of conduit 40 be reduced in anyway, asfor instance,'by.theclogging of this conduit by impurities, liquid will accumulate in the lower part of absorber 35 until such a level is reached thatliquid will flow into conduit 41. 1

liquid will pass through conduit 41 to This that portion of the conduit which is formed in a coil around flue 11 where theapplication of heat will cause the vaporization of a. portion of the li uid which willcause the remainingliqui to be raised through conduit 41'tothe upper part of generatorlO.

It is desirable that conduits 40 or 41 be of considerable length between the absorber and the coil around flue 11, or. preferably that .both' conduits be of, extended length, as

shown. This length causes resistance to be ofiered to the flow of liquid through the con- 7 duit orQ conduitsandhence conditions existing'in one coil-will not be readily communi cated back to the absorber andto the other coil. This is vofmimportance when flow through conduit 40 is partially impaired by the presenceof foreign matter in the conduit but. some flow therethrough still takes place.

In this case the coil made up of conduit- 40.

pump than the coil made .up

hasless fluid to of conduit 41 and hence if thesetwo conduits were short, pumping action of the latter might be exchanger cool solution in conduits 40 or. 41.

Both conduits 40 and 41 extend downwardly from the absorber to a point below the coils around flue 11 and thus aliquid sealmay be formed in these conduits. This is particularly important with respect to conduit41, for under normal operating-. conditions when no liquid is, being, conveyed through-this conduit,.vapor from the upper part ,ofthe generator could pass therethrough to the absorber it' it were not for. this seal. I

-Even though no liquid is passing through conduit41 the. coil made up of thissconduit around flue 11 will not become overheated:

due to the fact that liquid is passing through conduit 40. The same is true with respectto interfered with. I, The increased length alsomakes possible an, eflicient heat to transfer heat from the warm solution in acket 42 to the comparatively llll the, coil made up fc nduit 4O if'this conduit should become completely stopped so that; no

flowwould take place therethrough. In this case the coil would not become overheatedas there would be liquid withinthe' coil made up of conduit 41. v e c While I have described amoreor less spe-' cific embodimentotmy invention it is to be understood that modificationsthereof fall withinits scope which is to be limited only by the appended claims-viewed in thelight of the prior art. I claim 1. In a refrigerating apparatus, in combination, a generator, an absorber, means to said absorber with the upper part of said generator, a conduit connecting an intermediate point of said absorber with the uper part of said enerator and means to heat 0th of said c'on uits. I

2. In a refrigerating apparatus, in combination, a generator, an absorber, means to convey liquid from said generator to said absorber, a conduit connecting the bottom of said absorber with the upper part of said generator, a conduit connecting an intermediate point of said absorber with the up- 1 per part of said generator and means to heat portions of said conduits, one of said conduits being of extended length between said absorber and the heated portion of said conduit.

3. In a refrigerating apparatus, in combination, a generator, an absorber, means to conve liquid from said generator to said absor er, a conduit connecting the bottom of said absorber with the upp'erpart of said generator, a conduit connecting an intermediate point of said absorber with the upper part of said generator and means to heat portions of said conduits, said conduits being ofextended length between said absorber and the said heated portions.

4. In a refrigerating apparatus, in combination, a generator, an absorber, means to convey liquid from said generator to said absorber, a conduit connecting the bottom of said absorber with the upper part of said generator, a conduit connecting an intermediate point of said absorber with the upper part'of said generator and means to heat a portion of each of said conduits, said sec- 0nd mentioned conduit being arranged to have a liquid seal formed therein between said absorber and the portion of said second mentioned conduit which is heated.

5. In a refrigerating apparatus in combination, a generator, an absorber, a flue within said generator and extending beyond the lower end thereof, means to convey liquid from said generator to said absorber, a conduit connecting the bottom of said absorber with the upper part of said generator and wound in the form of a coil around the extending end of said flue, a second conduit connecting an intermediate point of said absorber with the upper part of said generator and wound in the form of a coil between turns of said first mentioned coil and means to heat lower end thereof, means to convey liquid from said generator to said absorber, a conduit connecting the bottom of said absorber with the upper part of said generator and 1 wound in the form of a coil'around the exconvey liquid from said generator to said, absorber, a conduit connecting the bottom of tending end of'said flue,'a second conduit connecting an intermediate point of said absorber with the 'upper part of said generator tus, a first vessel containing liquid, a second vessel at a higher level than said first vessel, means to convey li uid from said first vessel to said second vesse comprising two conduits in parallel and means for providing presence of vapor in said conduits, one of said conduits being of extended length between the place where the vapor is provided and said first mentioned vessel.

8. In an absorption refrigerating apparatus, a first vessel containing 1i uid, a second vessel at a higher level than said first vessel, means to convey liquid from said first vessel to said second vessel comprising two conduits in parallel, said conduits communicating with said first vessel at difierent levels and means for providing presence of vapor in said conduits.

9. In an absorption refrigerating apparatus, a first vessel containing liquid, 9. second vessel at a higher level than said first vessel, means to convey liquid from said first vessel to said second vessel comprising two conduits in parallel, said conduits communicating with said first vessel at separated points and means for providing presence of vapor in said conduits, one of said conduits being of extended length between the place where the vapoi is provided and said first mentioned vesse 10. In an absorption refrigerating apparain parallel and means for providing presence of vapor in said conduits, one of said conduits offering an appreciable resistance to the flow of liquid therethrough from said first vessel to the place where the vapor is provided in the conduit.

11. In an absorption refrigerating apparatus, a first vessel containing liquid, a second vessel at a higher level than said first vessel,

means to convey liquid from said first vessel to said second vessel comprising two conduits inparallel, said conduits communicating with said first vessel at separated points and means for providing presence of vapor in said conduits, one of said conduits arranged for forming a liquid seal between the place where the vapor is'provided and said first vessel.

12. In an absorption refrigerating apparatus, a first vessel containing li uid, a second v vessel at a higher level than saldfirst vessel, means to convey liquid from said first vessel to said second vessel comprising two-conduits in parallel, said conduits communicating with I said first vessel at separated points and means for providing presence of vapor in said conduits, one of said conduits arranged for forming a liquid sealbelow the place where the vapor is provided and between said place and saidfirst vessel. 7

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

CARL GEORG MUNTERS. 

